Still Waters

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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters related to Predator El, other unrelated human characters, and the character names of the predators Imade up, the concept of predator do not belong to me.



Authors Notes: This is a work of Fan fiction. please read on and enjoy.



WARNING: The following work of fiction contains, extream violence, course language (at times), sexual sudgestions, nudety, and explicit sex. If you are
under 18 (or whatever age is appropriate for your location), HIT YOUR
BACK BROWSER BUTTON NOW. If you find explicit sex offensive, please
don't offend yourself by reading further.



Author: Charlotte (jemstone5)

Email: charlottemacfarl@hotmail.com

Feedback: Please, yes lots.

Forward to others: would be flattered if you did.

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Still Waters

Book 3



Chapter 10



The tunnel seemed endless, and the sack she was wearing was starting to itch. Though the season was late fall, almost to Halloween, the air seemed uncharacteristically warm. For that she was grateful. All around her she could hear strange clicks, and sounds of a number of animals, growling. Her heart began to race as she envisioned her young boy ravaged to pieces by wolves, or mountain lions, or whatever animals lived in this area. She spotted the end of the tunnel, and the glow of a fire beyond. All she could think of was wrapping her arms around her boy. Screaming she burst from the tunnel, into the odd open space, hoping to scare off any animals that may be there.


“SAM!!”


“MOM!!”


The rocks around them seemed alive with strange movement, but as she could see no dangerous animals, she quickly found her son. “Dear God Sam, what the heck has gotten into you?!”


“I’m ok mom, really. Come here, stand with me.”


“Sam, we have to go. God only knows how I’m gona explain this to the lawyers.”


“Don’t worry about him, mom. Just come here.” He reached out his hand as she came to the edge of the stone circle.


“Sam, why did you run off? Please tell m…” It was then she noticed the two women and two men a few feet away. One woman was obviously pregnant, and by he look of her could deliver any time. “Who are you?!” she barked, but the group remained calm and quiet.


“Mom, you have to stand with me, or the Spirit Walkers won’t talk to you.”


“What?!”


“Please mom,” Sam sobbed. “Dad would understand, please.”


As she looked at her boy’s pleading eyes, she saw how desperate he was for her to understand. She never did take part in any of the native ceremonies, aside form the traditional wedding, but she’d encouraged Sam to learn from his father. This must have been one of those counsel the grieving spirit things. So, she took a deep breath and smiled at her son, pulling him to a hug, as she crossed the stones.


Sam smiled, as he turned in his mother’s embrace, to the small group in front of them. “I am Samuel Small Feathers, I have come to finish what I started. I will keep y word to the Spirit Walker.”


Aubrey heard a familiar sound, a deep purring, come from beside her, and as she turned to the sound, a figure immerged from the darkness. She pulled Sam closer and tried to back away, only to have Sam drop a colored stone into the ring around them and fire leapt to the air, just to her knees.


“SAM!!”


“Ask your questions!” the figure stated curtly, purring louder, over the roar of the flames, the vibrations definitely showing effect on Aubrey, no matter how much she tried to fight it. Slowly the fire died down to just above the woman’s ankles, but the realization that she was to remain in the circle was clear on her face.






The ravine kept Walker from driving his truck closer to the caves, but they were only a short jog away. They could see the glow of a fire from one of the tunnels, and above the ring of rocks around the central opening. Patting his partner and friend’s shoulders, they headed off, hoping that the woman and the boy would be alright.


Sometimes, a young man needed to be alone, to think. He’d run off a few times himself as a boy, and his grandfather always found him. Huddled beneath his blanket, at a fire near a small body of water, be it a puddle, a pond, or someone’s kiddy pool in their back yard. His grandfather had once told him that to sit watching a fire was a sign of deep thinking, that one’s thoughts were important enough to spend time to sort through. Not many young native boys did that anymore, and not many of the elders of the band were having much success teaching them. They did come around eventually.


“Walker, I hear voices,” Trivet announced. Walker nodded, and waved for the lot of them to move in carefully.


When they emerged from the tunnel, a sound echoed off the rocks that Walker could only describe as a deep husky warning call, much like gofers would use to warn their community of danger. What Walker saw next was not what he’d expected. Trivet wanted to laugh.






“Sam, who are these people,” Aubrey asked, trying to put herself between her son and this over dressed Halloween character from a horror movie she’d never watched.


Sam just huffed. “Mom, get out of the way. I have to be in front.”


“What?! Are you nuts! Is this what you’ve been learning on the internet in school? Who are these people!”


“Mom, calm down. I didn’t get them over the internet. This is Spirit Walker. I asked him to watch over you. And he did. Very well too.”


“What?”


“He really likes you too mom. And I think if you give him a chance, you’ll get to like him too.”


“Not on your life!”


“Do you refuse to abide by what your son has promised?” the masked pregnant woman asked.


“Whatever my son said he’d do, I won’t allow it! You could be a bunch of pedifiles for all I know!”


“I assure you,” the woman laughed gently, “that is not the case. In fact, given the opportunity, they will kill every one of those kinds of people. All you need do is give them the word.”


“Are you crazy!” Aubrey asked, then stood back in thought. “Would they really do that?”


“For their mates they would shatter the planet.” The woman next to the pregnant one looked over her shoulder to a tall rock behind her. Aubrey was sure she heard it groan to her. “Your son used an ancient ceremony to call on what he calls the Spirit Walker. This hunter was here when that happened. By rights, though the ceremony no longer in practice, he was entitled to what ever your son promised. What did you promise little one?”


Sam squared his shoulders. “I swore I would do anything, if the Spirit Walker would help my mom keep me. I don’t want to go and live with my grand parents, I don’t even know why they’re doing what they’re doing. I want to stay with my mom.”


“Can I have a minute?” Aubrey asked, waving to the group for a time out. The pregnant woman nodded. “Sam, after you’d gone, Ranger Walker came. He found out what was going on. do you remember those important papers, the one’s your father left you?”


“The one’s you carry in your pocket all the time?”


“That’s right. Those papers are to a plot of land, probably this land, and you get to tell the band councile what to and not to do with that land. My parents, and the band council, want to build a casino and hotel on that land. But they can’t do that without a signature from either you, or me, or your legal guardian. Does that make sense?”


“Yes, I’m not five any more.”


“Ok. Well, my parents own the construction company that is looking to build the hotel. So both ways the band council and my parents pose to benefit, if the construction goes ahead. Thing is, they knew that I wouldn’t go along with the project, because of the way that they’ve treated us in the past. Besides, the land is to remain the way it is, until a mutual beneficial plan can be made. Beneficial to the band, and the land. Not just one.”


“And a hotel doesn’t benefit the land.”


“I don’t think it would. It would encourage gambling, problems, crime…any number of things. I don’t think that this place would be a good place for a casino. But the decision is ultimately yours. What do you want to do?” Aubrey pointed to the end of the tunnel, where she’d dropped hers and Sam’s clothes, tied together in her shirt. Sam knew that in her back pants pocket were the papers that his father had left him.


“Get the papers mom, I have an idea.” Without warning, the bundle flew across the sand, and over the flames. Aubrey shook off her surprise, and went to work. She helped Sam find the appropriate places to fill out, then after he signed it, so did she. Aubrey then wrote a quick note on the back of her grocery list, and folded it with the papers before handing it back to Sam.


“Are you sure this is what you want?” she asked. Sam nodded. “Ok.” And Sam put the papers in his pants pocket. Then the two stood back up, and looked to the group in front of them. “Ok, so now what?”


“Now we find out what the Spirit Walker wants in return for helping you.”


“Helping me? In what? I’ve been fine.”


“There was a male that was going to hurt you. He didn’t. I stopped him. I also helped you sleep more at ease, and made sure you were un-accosted on your daily rounds. You toil in circles, and get nothing. I wish to put an end to that.”


“How!”


“Become my mate, and you will ever have to traverse the terrain in a vehicle that barely functions. You will be protected, you will never again be bothered by undesirable, and unworthy, males. You will want for nothing but your mate…” he looked to Sam. Some Ooman children didn’t understand the relations between their parents, so he chose his words carefully. “…at your side.”


“Mom, say yes. The only thing you’d have to worry about is selling the house. We can donate it to…”


“No,” Aubrey sighed, “I don’t have to sell the house.”


“What do you mean?”


“In the mail yesterday, there was a letter from the bank, and the government. The land taxes for the past two years are due, and I don’t have the money to pay for it. To recoup the money, the government is going to sell the house in a tax sale. I’m sorry Sam. I didn’t want to focus on it…”


“Mom, don’t cry, please. Its ok. Just say yes, and Spirit Walker will make sure that everything is ok. Remember what dad said. He’d send someone for you. I’m sure he sent Spirit for you, through me. Please say yes.”


“Honey.”


“Your, Gov’nmnt is taking your home? Those are your leaders, are they not?” Aubrey nodded yes. “In my clan, your home is with all of us. We do not believe in this silly currency as you do. If you need anything, all you need do is say so, and the artisans on the ship will make it for you.”


“Please mom, please say yes. If we stay, gram and gramps are only gona contest what we just did with the papers, and go to court all over again, and this time, they may win. I don’t wana leave you!”


At that moment, one of the young bloods let out a warning bark, and all hidden eyes turned to the tunnel opening, as three males came through. Kal hissed gently. This was all they needed.






The three rangers stood dumbfounded. The boy and the woman were now dressed in just plain tan hides. The boy’s barley a loin cloth, and the girl’s dress just coming to the middle of her thighs. But that alone wasn’t what stayed their progress. Just on the other side of the two, were two women, and two old men, and something that looked as though it stepped off a movie screen of a science fiction horror film.


The creature, or rather costumed man, was tall, over six feet, his skin was painted pale yellow, patterned with brown or black splotches. His feet were adorned with claws that reached out over the sole plates on his feet, and shin guards of metal reaching to his covered knees. Beneath the metal armor across the man’s hips and chest, he wore a black net, on both arms were gauntlets, the one on the right with retracted blades, his appearance finished off with a mask to hide his true face, while nearly two meter long tubular tentacles stemmed from his heavily masked head, at least two inches around at his head, thinning down to the ends. Each tentacle was decorated with rings, three on each, a strange symbol he couldn’t make out, etched into each one.


“You have no business being here!” Sam shouted, putting himself between his mother and the rangers. “GO AWAY!!”


“Sam, we can work through this,” Walker stated, taking three steps to the pair, only to have the tall man step between them, his painted flesh flexing as, and of all things, he growled at the ranger’s approach.


“If you value your life, Ranger,” one of the strange women stated, “you’ll leave the way you came.”


“Now see here!” shouted the older man behind Walker. “We came here for them. They’re friends of ours!”


“NOT OF YOURS!” Aubrey shouted, holding her son. “I came to you in answer to your ad, for work. I’ve yet to hear back.”


The old man looked at her. “I’ve been a bit busy.”


“Walker,” Trivet called gently. Walker stepped back. “The woman at the back, with the mask on. She’s…pregnant.”


“I see that.”


“I mean, she’s REALLY pregnant. You sure we should be upsetting her like this?”


“She seems to be the ring leader. I’ll do what I can.” The man turned and went back to facing the tall man in the costume. “Miss, I don’t know what you and your friends have been telling Sam, but playing with his beliefs is a horrible way to get what you want.”


“I don’t want anything,” the masked girl replied, cautiously walking passed the pair in the circle, careful not to displace any of the stones. “I’m here in support of one of my family.”


“Your buddy in the monster outfit?” the dark ranger stated.


“You may call me monster,” the tall man stated, not taking his eyes off Walker, who was the real threat. Kal had seen him fight. He was good. Real good. Had this been a human trophy hunt, he’d gladly take his head. “But it is you who befit the title. I have seen what your people do to her. I have put a stop to it, more than once.”


“Oh my god.”


The woman in the mask looked to the woman in the circle. “Do you remember what happened?” she asked gently.


“Yes,” the woman replied. “Please, take Sam away from here, I don’t want him to hear this.”


“No mom, I’m not going anywhere. I called him here, I asked him to help you. What ever happened, I want to know.” She looked down to his brown eyes, framed by his jet black hair, just like his father’s. “I’m strong enough mom. Tell them.”


“It was a while ago,” she began. “I’d heard from the neighbors about some guy who was found murdered in my neighborhood – really close to my house. Until now, I’d o idea how close to us he really was. He must have been the guy who took the pictures of the inside of my house.” She then turned her attention to the tall man in front of the ranger. “That was you, wasn’t it?”


Kal turned and headed to the circle of stones. Walker carefully followed. He could hear hissing, and low growls from around the small valley. There were more of these guys in costume out there, and in monster character. This was getting ridiculous.


The tall man then started to purr, just as the woman had said, and she smiled. “It’s you!” she gasped. “You were in the stair well with me! You…you helped me calm down. Didn’t you?”


“Yes,” Kal replied. “I came here for a purpose, your son helped me fulfill that purpose.”


“She’s not as skilled as Chonie,” the masked woman stated. “Nor me. Will you teach her?”


“Absolutely.”


“Then I have no quarrel with your choice.”


“Thank you.” The tall one then turned his head to the sky, and let out a low growl. From around the area there came growls of response, and the tingly hiss to the air, as one by one, the strange costumed beings appeared.


“Now this is getting weird,” said Trivet, and with Cd, they joined Walker near the circle of small stones.


All this time Walker was carefully studying the stones, the images painted on them, the small fires, and the way they were arranged. It was all consistent with the old stories of the demons that had come. A few of his father’s people still looked to these demons, believing them to be noble spirits, asking them for guidance. Though their open acceptance by his people was not encouraged, mostly the old tales were told to scare children on Halloween.


“Walker, we have a situation developing here,” Cd stated. “What do we do?”


“The only thing you can hope fore, Rangers,” said the woman in the mask. “Is that you kill all of them, before they kill you.” She turned to walk away, but stopped, putting her hand to her lower belly.


“Hey, you ok?” Walker asked, going to her side. But he didn’t stay there. A huge strong arm swept out of nowhere, and slung him aside.


After he landed, and caught his wind, he looked back to see the woman with two of the costumed men with her, grunting, clicking, all mixed with words he didn’t understand. The girl shook her head to them, then straightened and walked back to the others.


The tall one, known only as Spirit, came into Walker’s view. “You are lucky, Ooman, she is well, and her mates were persuaded not to kill you for your arrogance. NEVER touch what is not yours!” He then turned back to the two in the circle. “Small Feather, is this the rock on which you drew my symbol?” Kal tossed the stone at the boy’s feet.


“Yes it is. I made the paint myself.”


Kal then pulled out the paper he kept under his chest plate, now tattered at the edges by his sweat, he held it out to the boy. “And is this not an image of you and your mother, which you had placed on that very stone that night?”


The boy looked at the picture, held in the huge reptile like fingers in front of his face. “Yes it is.”


“Repeat what you told me that night. And make sure you remember your words exactly.”


Sam stood tall, at his four foot seven height. “I asked you to protect my mother, that I would do anything if you would help her keep me.”


“And do you still stand by what you said?”


“YES!”


Kal looked at the woman. “In our culture, no matter how old the boy to be, may make requests or demands of his gods. By making an offering upon the alter of their chosen god, they must abide by what they promised, should their request be fulfilled. In return for protecting you, and helping you keep your son from those who wish to take him from you, your son has offered both himself…and you…to me. Do you accept?”


“That’s crazy talk!” Cd shouted.


“IT’S LIKE CONDONING SLAVERY ALL OVER AGAIN!” Trivet added, but they were both silenced as two metal spears and a pair of blades, appeared before them.


“I await your answer,” Kal said.


“If I refuse?” she asked.


“You have every right to refuse, but the bargain has been made with your son. Agree or not, he goes.”


“NO!!!”


“MOM, it’s ok. I don’t mind.”


“They tried to take you from me with the courts!” she cried, clutching him to her. “I won’t lose you to god knows what.”


“Yautja,” Kal stated. “I am a Yautja. Agree to the bargain your son entered into in good faith, and you will both go.”


“I’ll be charged with kidnapping. There will be no place on earth were I can hide. They’ll take him away!!!”


“Who said anything about staying on this world?” the masked woman asked, then all those gathered looked to the tall male with the red cloak. He gave several clicks, and a hiss, followed by a word, then above them, seeming to peel out of the very clouds, hovered a large gold ship. Once it was fully visible, several lights shone down to the group. “I’ve met some wonderful people in my travels. And best yet, no human politics to get in the way.”


“You mean, they’re…”


“Aliens? Well that depends on your point of view. To them, we are as alien, as they are to us.” The girl stood once more, this time the two older human men came to join her.


“Seems your buddies don’t mind them coming near you,” Walker stated.


“Because they are family. You are not.” She then put her attention to the woman again. “Agree to be his mate, and you and your son will never fear for anything. You will need to learn a whole new way of life, but I think, if you stay here, this life will kill you.”


“I know it will,” she stated.


“Then choose. That’s all you have to – DO !!” This time the woman doubled over. She was quickly picked up by one of the costumed men, and carried away.


“Is she gona be alright?” Trivet asked. “We can have a medi-vac-chopper out here in no time.”


“She will not be handled by your healers!” the red cloaked man shouted, then turned to Kal. “Finish this, and we will go.” He then walked back to where he stood, the rest of his family, and his mate’s family going with him.


“What will it be?” Kal asked the woman.


She looked at Walker, Trivet, and Cd. The only one of the three that treated her with any margin of respect and kindness, was Walker. She would miss him the most. “I accept.”


Kal let out a glorious roar, and stepped to the circle, drawing his blade. At first she was a bit afraid, but when her son didn’t move, she calmed. Elegantly, he carved his family’s symbol into the flesh of her right shoulder, and did the same to Sam. Then picking up the boy, and holding the girl close, he walked away, the same way that Ver’On had gone before.


“Ranger Walker!” the boy shouted. “In my pocket. You’ll find what the band is looking for. Mom signed it over to you. We figured you’d know what to do!” The boy’s joyous laugh was heard all around the canyon, as the tall man ascended the cliff walls of stone like steps.


Taking his lead, the rest of the gathered men also followed, each growling slightly at the Rangers as they went, one by one, they picked up the painted stones, and stomped out the small fires. The three watched the group climb the cliff, the levels of stone nearly impossible for humans to use as stairs, but seemed no huge obstacle for the wave of men that climbed them.


“Walker,” Trivet asked, as the last small looking man passed them. “What do we do?”


Walker said nothing, but blocked the path of the passing youth. He hissed at the ranger, but a series of clicks growls and words from a taller one on the cliff, calmed him somewhat.


The youth nodded, and carefully pulled the leads from his mask, and removed his mask to reveal his face. There was no outward acknowledgement from Walker of his appearance, but as the youth turned to the other male humans, Trivet was the one to speak. “Holly…that is one ugly mother…”


“DON’T!” The group turned to the slender woman, as she’d yet to go up the cliff with the others. “They’ve heard it before, and they don’t like it. You say that, Ranger, and you will die.” As though to prove the statement, the male in front of Walker, held up a distinctive human skull in a net like bag, still red with blood, and covered with bits of flesh and muscle, yet to have been properly cleaned away. Cd grimaced at the sight, Trivet nearly threw up, Walker…never looked.


Walker stood motionless, studying the face of the man in front of him, trying to find where the makeup left off, and the human beneath could be exposed, but as he did, he noticed something. A small cut along the outer edge of where the mask would have been. There, running slowly down the edge of the boy’s face, was a small trail of glowing green to yellow blood, flowing as though it were human blood, from a wound not yet treated. The creature returned its amber gaze to Walker, growled menacingly at him, spreading is outer tusks and flapped skin wide, a show of strength, and courage. The boy was daring him to attack.


Walker just stepped aside. He had his answer. These were not humans in costume. When their shoulders were side by side, he called out. “Make sure she doesn’t drive…or fly…she’s still got three unpaid speeding tickets.” The male just looked at him, then chuckled, shaking Walker’s shoulder, before joining his people on he cliff above.


The group turned to the woman still on the cliff, as the taller male she was with turned back to her, noticing she’d not yet joined him. Was she having second thoughts?


“You have been greeted,” she said to Walker. “He likes your humor. Perhaps another time, you would fight equally.”


“Thanks, but no thanks. I like my head where it is.”


“As you wish.” She turned to see the tall male waiting for her. He reached his hand to her, and she gladly took it, being pulled to his side, she kissed his neck, before heading up the cliff.


The taller male looked back to the three Oomans, and scoffed at them, a gesture they took as, ‘Get lost’.


Slowly the group disappeared into a bright light form the ship. Then the wind picked up, and the ship’s low humming engines carried it into the sky, its appearance winking from the naked eye, the same way it had been revealed.


Trivet looked at Walker. “So what do we tell the band council?”


“He’s right. The judge will also have questions,” Cd continued.


“Yeah, but no legal paperwork was signed yet. The judge recessed till the boy could be found, remember. Aubrey is still his mother, still his legal guardian.” Walker picked up the boy’s clothes, the papers sticking out of the back pocket. He unfolded the paper and read the note.





Ranger Walker,


This land deed was left to my late husband, Mike. Before he could sign it to Sam, my husband died. By legal rights, it fell to my son, Sam. As you learned, that is why the band council wanted him. Without legal rights to the land, they can’t build the casino. They wanted custody, so they could have the papers, in stewardship to my son. But when I started to fight back, they knew the courts would side with me. They always sided with the mother.


With my family owning the construction company that would build the casino, they worked together to make things difficult for me to either find work, or to keep a lawyer. When the courts saw me as I was, struggling, and soon to find out that I was losing my home, they would have to look to the best interests of the child…of my son. Sam knew they would do what they did today. That’s why I took off after him when he ran from the courtroom.


Sam and I are signing the land over to you Ranger Walker, not as a bribe or anything like that. But because I know you’re a good man, and you’ll do the right thing. That, and the band council wouldn’t dare lift a finger against you. Keep the land well Ranger Walker, do what you think is right for it and the band. Just as we will do what we think is right for us.


Sincerely, Aubrey and Samuel Small Feathers.




She had made her decision already, before the tall man had even asked her. He wondered how she knew. Walker folded the note, and the papers back together. The judge would need to see it, but if all went well, the planned casino, would remain that, a plan…never getting off the drawing tables. “Let’s go.”


“What about…? Walker! What about them!?”


“What about them?”


“Well…how do we…what do we…oh hell, I don’t know?!”


“Trivet, just get in the truck.” After a moment, Trivet laughed, and followed his partner, Cd falling into step with them. Walker looked to the stars one last time. “Sprit Walk. They went on their own Spirit Walk.”


“Yeah. That’s gona be one hell of a hike,” Trivet agreed. Cd and Walker laughed.